Apparatus for mounting and positioning of excavating devices

ABSTRACT

The invention is an apparatus for operably mounting excavating devices, such as backhoe assemblies, especially adapted to facilitate excavating in limited spaces. The device is a wheelmounted L-shaped frame having a front transverse leg and a rearwardly extending leg. Along the rearwardly extending leg is affixed a support adapted to receive an excavating assembly, such as a backhoe, to extend operably into the angle formed by the legs of the L-shaped frame.

[ 1 June 13, 1972 United States Patent Neff [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS [54] APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING AND POSITIONING OF EXCAVATINGDEVICES [72] Inventor:

Holopainen........................2l4/138 R Dean O. Neil, 415 We t 8thStree 3,243,061 3/1966 McKeown.............................2l4/83.lRochester, 1nd. 46975 3,276,603 10/1966Noller.........................,......214/138 C 0 7 9 l 5 3 m7 7 o N ml6. mo. FA 1] 2' 22 [.1

Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No.786,343, Dec. 23,

ABSTRACT The invention is an apparatus for operably mounting excavatingdevices, such as backhoe assemblies, especially adapted to facilitateexcavating in limited spaces. The device is a wheel- 1968, abandoned,which is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 670,039, Sept. 25, 1967,abandoned.

mounted L-shaped frame having a front transverse leg and a 52 U.S.Cl...........................................214/13ac,214/131 rearwardlyextending leg. Along the rearwardly extending leg ....E02f 3/74.214/131, 138, 138 B, 138 C 1s affixed a support adapted to receive anexcavating assembly,

[51] Int.Cl. [58] Field ofSearch......,............

such as a backhoe, to extend operably into the angle formed by the legsof the L-shaped frame.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing figures Patented June 13, 1972 6 Sheets-Sheet}INVENTOR 254w Q A/EFF ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1912 6 Sheets-{Sheet 2'INVENT OR 2544/ 0. lf/EF'F BY fig ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1972 6Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 1972 3,669,285

6 Sheets-Sheet 4.

INVENTOR $54M 0. A/E'FF' BY 2M4 ATTORNEY Patented June 13, 19723,669,285

s Sheets-Sheet s INVEN'IOR DEAN O. NEFF Patented June 13, 1972 V3,669,285

6 Sheets-Sheet 6 PIC-3.6

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INVENTOR DEAN O. NEFF ATTORNEY APPARATUS FOR MOUNTING AND POSITIONING OFEXCAVATING DEVICES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS Thirdly, theweight of conventional tractor-mounted backhoe devices is such thatdamage to graves over which it must pass is also frequent.

These disadvantages are overcome by the present invention Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of applicant's 5 whichisadevicehaving:

copending application, Ser. No. 786,343 entitled DEVICE FOR MOUNTING ANDPOSITIONING OF EXCAVATING DEVICES, filed on Dec. 23, 1968, nowabandoned, which is a continuation-in-part of applicants application,Ser. No. 670,039, filed Sept. 25, 1967 and now abandoned.

This invention relates to an apparatus for operably mounting excavatingdevices, such as backhoe assemblies, especially adapted to facilitateexcavating in limited spaces.

It is well known to mount auxiliary equipment to prime movers such astractors in such manner that the equipment can be removed and replacedby other devices. For example, plows, seeders, spreaders, fork lifts,cranes, earth augers, scoops and blades are each removably mounted foruse on tractors. In most instances, such appliances are operated(lifted, turned, lowered, rotated etc.) by secondary power means such asa hydraulic power source with which many tractors are equipped.

Backhoe excavators, in particular, are usually mounted directly to therear of a prime mover, usually a tractor, along the longitudinal axis ofthe prime mover in such a manner that they have an effective working arc(swing arc) of about 180. This method of mounting is generally adequateand does not require extensive modification of the tractor.

Though the above-described conventional backhoe assembly is quitesatisfactory for most applications, it is distinctly unsatisfactorywhere room to back and turn is limited.

The length of even a small tractor is at least about feet. Thus, toexcavate an 8 feet long ditch, parallel to the long axis of the tractor,requires a space of over 18 feet. Moreover, there must be suitableaccess for the vehicle to attain proper excavating position. Even if thebackhoe is turned 90 to dig at right angles to the tractor, the amountof space required is considerable. For example, to excavate an 8 feetlong ditch using a small-to-medium sized tractor requires a total spaceof l3 or 14 feet, exclusive of clearances.

An important instance where space requirements of this magnitude arecritical is the excavation of graves in cemeteries having conventionalabove-grade grave markers or headstones. Many such cemeteries, of whichthere are thousands in the United States alone, utilize tractor-mountedbackhoes for the digging of graves, which replace much of the manuallabor formerly needed to perform this function. In most instances, thespace between parallel rows of markers is restricted to l0 -l4 feet.

The use of tractor-mounted backhoes in cemeteries and graveyards to diggraves has severe disadvantages even though it reduces the amount ofmanual labor and the cost of preparing a grave for interrment. Firstly,as mentioned above, the space between rows of headstones is oftenlimited, thus access to a grave site is either restricted or impossiblewith conventional tractor-mounted backhoes. The grave must therefore bedug with the backhoe in the 90 position. Because the backhoe has a fixedaxis of rotation on the tractor it is apparent that an excavation havingparallel sides is extremely difficult unless the tractor is movedperiodically during the excavating operation. This is, of course, timeconsuming and therefore expensive.

Secondly, the size of conventional tractor-mounted backhoe assemblies issuch that extensive damage to headstones and memorial markers occursfrequently in manipulating the assembly into position under conditionsof restricted clearances. In fact, with conventional tractor-mountedbackhoe units, it is frequently necessary to move large headstones andmonuments in order to get suitable excavating position. This requiresadditional manpower as well as additional heavy equipment. Moreover, therisk of damage to monuments is much greater, especially to older stonemonuments which have weathered.

l. A rigid supporting frame having a. a front transverse leg and b. anoff-center rearwardly extending leg, said frame being mounted on 2.Support means for the front transverse leg and for the rearwardlyextending leg,

3. Excavator support means affixed on the rearwardly extending legadapted to receive a secondary power-actuated excavator assembly toextend operably into the angle formed by the legs of the supportingframe,

4. Retractable secondary power-actuated stabilizer extendible from therearwardly extending leg to the ground, and

5. Secondary power and control means adapted to operate the stabilizermeans.

In one preferred aspect, the device is self-propelled, having primarypower means mounted on the frame and adapted to transmit motive power tothe front wheel assemblies. In a further preferred embodiment of thisaspect of the invention, the primary power means is also a source ofsecondary power to actuate and position the stabilizer means and movablecarriage as well as the attached excavating assembly. In a still furtherpreferred embodiment, there is movably attached to the support affixedalong the rearwardly extending leg 21 carriage which is capable ofhorizontal shuttling motion along the carriage support.

In a second preferred aspect, the device is not self-propelled but thefront leg is supported by attachment to the rear of a prime mover, suchas a tractor, in a manner such that the apparatus is restricted from anysubstantial independent motion, apart from that of the prime mover, inthose planes of rotation perpendicular to the longitudinal and verticalaxes of the prime mover. However, the attachment may be such thatrotation of the apparatus is free to rotate in a plane of rotationperpendicular to the transverse axis (rear aide of the prime mover.Though rigid attachment as to rotation about this lastnamed axis isfully operable, flexible attachment permitting such rotation is to bepreferred, especially when the apparatus is used on rolling, hilly orotherwise irregular surfaces. The precise mode of attachment, within theabove-noted limits, is not critical and various configurations thereforwill be readily apparent to anyone skilled in the mechanical arts.However, among those systems which may be used are a conventionalthree-point tractor hitch and dual hinged clamps affixed to the rearaxle housing of the prime mover.

In its complete operation-ready form, i.e. with the excavating assemblyattached, the invention is an excavating device having:

1. An L-shaped rigid supporting frame having a. a front transverse legand b. a rearwardly extending leg, said frame being mounted 2. Supportmeans for the front transverse leg and for the rearwardly extending leg,

3. Excavator support means affixed on the rearwardly-extending legadapted to receive a secondary power-actuated excavator assembly toextend operably into the angle formed by the legs of the supportingframe.

4. A secondary power-actuated excavating assembly affixed to theexcavator support and operably extendible into the angle formed by thelegs of the L-shaped frame;

5. Retractable secondary power-actuated stabilizer and extendible fromthe rearwardly extending leg to the ground; and

6. Secondary power and control means adapted to operate the stabilizermeans and excavating assembly independently.

Though, when the apparatus is self-propelled, separate motive andsecondary power means may be used, it will ordinarily be preferred touse a single unit, such as a gasoline engine, as a source for bothmotive power and power to operate the stabilizer and backhoe excavatingassembly. This is, of course, well known and can be accomplished byusing a gasoline-fuelled internal combustion engine having a secondarypow er takeoff. When the transverse leg of the apparatus is supported byattachment to a prime mover, provision for motive power is unnecessary.Likewise, the prime mover is normally the source of secondary power aswell by means of a secondary power takeoff. Conventional agriculturaltractors are, of course, normally equipped with such power takeoffs andare useful as the prime mover for the invention, as are small trucks andthe like.

The most reliable and economical power for operation of the device(secondary power means) is hydraulic power. Thus, the source of powerfor the stabilizer and excavator will usually be a hydraulic pumpactivated by the primary power means. Each of the three above-namedcomponents is operably connected by means of a system of hydrauliccylinders each connected to two hoses via independently operating valvecontrols connected in fluid flow relationship to the intake and outputside of an hydraulic pump. This means of actuating and controllingdevices of this type is, of course, well known and widely used.

The invention can be better understood by reference to the drawingscomprised of six figures, as follows:

FIG. 1: Overhead view of the invention positioned for making a series ofparallel excavations;

FIG. 2: Rear elevation of the invention;

FIG. 3: Side elevation of the invention from behind the rearwardlyextending leg;

FIG. 4: Side elevation of the excavator carriage and carriage support(Section 4-4, from FIG. 2); and

FIG. 5: An overhead view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6: An overhead view of the invention in which the front transverseleg is supported by attachment to the prime mover.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the invention is shown as having a rigid frameor chassis comprising a front transverse leg 1 and a rearwardlyextending leg 3, the frame being mounted on three wheel assemblies 5, 7,9. The front wheel assemblies 5, 7 both of which are dual wheelassemblies are mounted by means of axle supports 11, 13 on an axle 15along the transverse leg 1 and are powered by primary power means, herea gasoline engine 17, through transmission 19 the rear dual wheelassembly 9 is steered by means of steering assembly 21, which isoperated by control assembly 23 which is also used to regulate thedirection and amount of power transmitted to the front wheels.

Located along and atop the rearwardly extending leg of the frame 3 iscarriage support 25 on which is mounted a movable carriage 27. Thecarriage 27 is movably positioned along the support 25 by means ofhydraulic power means 29 including a cylinder with piston and rod toactuate the carriage support. On the movable carriage are mounted anexcavator assembly 31 extending for operation within the angle of thecarriage formed by the legs of the frame and on the opposite side anoperators seat 33 from which the excavator assembly is operated by meansof hydraulic value control 35 also affixed to the carriage.

The excavator 31 is here a conventional hydraulically powered backhoe ofthe type used for trenching and other excavating, comprising a bucket37, segmented boom 39 pivotably connected in both the horizontal andvertical planes to a support 41 affixed to the movable caniage 27. Thebucket is actuated by hydraulic power means 43. Lift, swing and crowd ofthe boom are also controlled respectively by hydraulic power means 45and 47 and by another located beneath the boom and therefore not visiblein this view. Each of the four movements of the backhoe bucket, lift,crowd and swing-is controlled by means of a set of hydraulic valvecontrols 35 located on the opposite side of the movable carriage 27'.

Along and below the rearward leg 3 is located an extendible andretractable stabilizer pad 49, here shown in phantom drawing, actuatedby hydraulic power means 51 and 53 by which the bending and twistingmovement of the excavator is countered during operation of the backhoe.All hydraulic power means are operably connected to secondary powermeans 55, Le. a hydraulic power takeoff, powered by the primary powermeans 17.

In the view of FIG. 1, the invention is shown to be positioned at thesecond of four excavation sites, wherein the space is extremely limitedby the presence of obstructions on both sides of the invention such aswould occur in a typical application in a cementery.

Turning now to FIG. 2 which is a rear elevation drawing of the inventionlooking forwardly to the transverse leg 1 and along the rearwardlyextending leg 3. In this figure, the carriage support 25, the backhoeassembly and ancillary equip ment are seen more clearly. In particular,the backhoe assembly is shown to be comprised of a bucket 37 rotatablein a vertical plane by the action of hydraulic power means 43, thebucket being mounted on segmented boom 39. Elevation of the boom 39 iscontrolled by actuating hydraulic pressure means 57 while the anglebetween the segments (crowd) is adjusted by hydraulic power means 45.The boom, along with hydraulic power means 45 and 57, is linked to avertical swing post 59. Thus, the swing of the excavator assembly isadjusted by actuating hydraulic power means 47, mounted on the verticalswing post support 41, which swings the backhoe assembly by action uponlinkage 61 between the swing post support 41 and the swing post 59. Thecarriage 27, is comprised of a rigid supporting frame movably mountedonto the carriage support 25 by means of two sets of two flanged wheels63, each of which tracks respectively an upper and lower round tubularhorizontal carriage frame member 65 extending between two vertical framemembers 67.

The backhoe assembly is positioned along the track or tubular framemembers 65 by operation of hydraulic power means 29. An operators seat33 is also affixed to the carriage 25 by means of a rigid support 69,thus maintaining the operator in comfortable operating position withrespect to the hydraulic control valves 35 on the carriage.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the invention from behind frame member 3looking in a direction parallel to the transverse frame member I, nowshown in this view. In particular, structural details of the stabilizerassembly are shown. The stabilizer assembly is comprised of hydraulicpower means 51 and 53 affixed to the underside of frame 1. On the lowerend of the hydraulic power means, is affixed stabilizer pad means 49. Byactuating the hydraulic power means, the stabilizer pad means 49 isretracted to above ground level or extended to ground level to effectstabilization of the invention during excavating operations, asdescribed hereinabove with respect to FIG. 1.

Also detailed in this figure are the excavator carriage 27 and carriagesupport 25, which as shown here contains two rigid upright frame members67 and two tubular cross members 65, the whole assembly being affixed ina vertical position atop and along the rearward leg 3. The carriagesupport, comprising two sets of flanged wheels 63 mounted on a rigidframe 71 in such manner that they track the tubular frame members 65 ofthe carriage support 25. The entire carriage is shuttled and positionedalong the support by the action of hydraulic power means 29.

FIG. 4 is a more detailed elevation view of the carriage and carriagesupport looking along the section 44 toward the rearwardly extending leg3. The carriage support comprising two vertical frame members 67 and twohorizontal frame members 65 is rigidly affixed along rearwardlyextending leg 3. To the back side and to the front side of the carriagesupport are juxtaposed the carriage frame members 75 and 73respectively. Extending between the carriage frame members are two setsof two flanged wheels 63 placed so as to track the upper and lowertubular frame members 65 of the carriage support. The carriage, to whichthe excavator assembly is mounted, is therefore rollably moved andpositioned along the carriage support 25 by operation of the hydraulicpower means 29 which is connected to the carriage by means of linkage 77and affixed to the frame by means of pivot linkage 79.

FIG. 5 is an overhead view of the invention which differs from thedevice of FIG. 1 in two important respects: (a) the support means 25affixed along the rearwardly extending leg is adapted to receivedirectly a secondary power actuated excavator assembly to extendoperably into the angle formed by the legs of the frame; (b) a secondarypower actuated stabilizer means 91 is mounted below and toward the freeend of the front transverse leg and extendible to the ground.

FIG. 6 is an overhead view of the invention in which the fronttransverse leg 1 is attached directly by means of support means 80 and81 to the rear of a tractor prime mover, without the use of supportingwheels under the front transverse leg as in the previous drawings. Inthis drawing, it is observed that the excavator support 25 is mounted onthe rearwardly extending leg 3 to permit operation of the excavatorassembly 31 not only in the. angle formed by the legs, but also towardthe rear and to the opposite side of the rearwardly extending leg 3,thereby giving even greater flexibility and versatility of operations.As shown, the turning action of the excavator assembly is powered twinhydraulic cylinders 84 and 85 which activate a rack and pinion assembly86 to rotate the excavator boom 39.

Also mounted on the transverse leg are retractable auxiliary stabilizers82 and 83 which are likewise extendible to the ground to effect stillfurther stabilization of the device while in operation. These auxiliarystabilizers may be powered in the manner of stabilizer 49 or they may bemanually operated, e.g. as with a screw jack mechanism.

From the foregoing it is apparent that operation of the excavatingapparatus within the angle of the L-shaped frame, especially whencombined with the shuttling action of the carriage, provides a maximumof excavating flexibility within a minimum amount of space. Moreover, aparallel-sided excavation, such as a grave, can be dug with a simpleuniplanar scooping action, which does not require any correlation withthe swinging action of the backhoe. Thus less operators skill and lesstime are needed to dig a neat, straight-sided excavation. Within thelimits of the length of the shuttle path plus the bucket width, aparallel-sided hole or ditch may be dug without repositioning theinvention, whereas conventional tractor-mounted backhoes would requireseveral repositionings to accomplish the same thing.

A further advantage of the invention is that, in digging a series ofparallel excavations, the device may be moved from the first site to thesecond and to the third etc. without danger of caving in the sides ofthe just completed excavation. By virtue of the L-shaped configurationof the frame, the wheels are, of course, also located well back from therim of the excavation, yet a firm base for resisting the movements andstresses of excavation is provided.

It has been found that the employment of at least one additionalstabilizer means mounted below the front transverse leg greatly reducesthe turning moments created by heavy excavation operations. Suchstabilizer may be located either toward the free end or toward the angleend of the front transverse leg, the former being preferred when onlyone such auxiliary stabilizer is used. It is still further preferred toemploy such stabilizers in both these positions. When either or both ofthese are used in conjunction with the rearward leg stabilizer,undesirable tilting of the device is virtually eliminated, thusincreasing the effective power transmittable to the bucket.

Backhoe assemblies suitable for use in conjunction with the inventionare available in the US. from a number of equipment manufacturers in awide range of sizes as to capacity, lift, reach, digging depth, loadingheight and the like. They are normally designed for quick hookup anddetachment, though, of course, permanent or semipermanent mounting maybe used.

The backhoe assembly itself may also have a set of two hydraulicallyoperated stabilizer feet or pads which are raised or lowered to straddlethe excavation and, in conjunction with the stabilizer pad on theinvention, provide stabilization of the unit both behind and alongsidethe excavation.

lt will be appreciated that while the use of an L-shaped frame ispreferred to obtain maximum stability with minimum dimensions, it willbe apparent that other substantially l..- shaped and otherconfigurations may be used, e.g. a arc, of a circle or ellipse, T-shapedconfigurations in which the rearwardly extending leg is offset from thecenter of the cross and similar configurations in which the rearwardlyextending leg is substantially off-center with respect to the transverseleg.

Though only a limited number of embodiments of the present inventionhave been specifically disclosed, it will be apparent that manyvariations may be made therein, all within the spirit of the inventionas defined herein What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for mounting and operating excavating devicescomprising:

1. A rigid supporting frame having a. a front transverse leg and b. anoff-center rearwardly extending leg, said frame being mounted on 2.Support means for the front transverse leg and for the rearwardlyextending leg,

3. Excavator support means afi'ixed on the rearwardly extending legadapted to receive a secondary power-actuated excavator assembly toextend operably into the angle formed by the legs of the supportingframe,

4. Retractable secondary power-actuated stabilizer means extendable fromthe rearwardly extending leg to the ground, and

5. Secondary power and control means adapted to operate the stabilizermeans.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which a secondary power-actuatedexcavator assembly is affixed to the excavator support means and isoperably extendible into the angle formed by the legs of the frame andthe control means is adapted to operate both the stabilizer means andthe excavator assembly independently.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 in which the support means for therearwardly extending leg comprises a wheel assembly mounted toward andsupporting the free end of the rearwardly extending leg.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the support means for the fronttransverse leg comprises hitching means adapted to hitch the fronttransverse leg parallel to the transverse axis and to the rear of aprime mover in such manner that the apparatus is substantiallyrestricted from independent motion in those planes of rotationperpendicular to the longitudinal and vertical axes of the prime mover.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which an auxiliary retractable stabilizermeans extendible to the ground is located on the front transverse legtoward the angle formed by the legs of the frame.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the secondary power is providedfrom the prime mover.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 in which the support means for the fronttransverse leg comprises two wheel assemblies mounted at opposite endsof an axle along the transverse leg and the wheel assembly on therearwardly extending leg is operably connected to steering means.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 in which primary power means is mounted onthe frame and adapted to transmit motive power to the front wheelassemblies.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 in which the primary power means is alsoadapted to operate secondary power means.

10. The'apparatus of claim 7 in which the excavator assembly is affixedto the excavator support by means of a secondary power-actuated carriagemounted on the support in such a manner that it is capable of horizontalshuttling motion along the excavator support and the secondary power andcontrol means is adapted to operate the stabilizer means, carriage andexcavator assembly independently.

1. An apparatus for mounting and operating excavating devicescomprising:
 1. A rigid supporting frame having a. a front transverse legand b. an off-center rearwardly extending leg, said frame being mountedon
 2. Support means for the front transverse leg and for the rearwardlyextending leg,
 2. Support means for the front transverse leg and for therearwardly extending leg,
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 in which asecondary power-actuated excavator assembly is affixed to the excavatorsupport means and is operably extendible into the angle formed by thelegs of the frame and the control means is adapted to operate both thestabilizer means and the excavator assembly independently.
 3. Excavatorsupport means affixed on the rearwardly extending leg adapted to receivea secondary power-actuated excavator assembly to extend operably intothe angle formed by the legs of the supporting frame,
 3. Excavatorsupport means affixed on the rearwardly extending leg adapted to receivea secondary power-actuated excavator assembly to extend operably intothe angle formed by the legs of the supporting frame,
 3. The apparatusof claim 1 in which the support means for the rearwardly extending legcomprises a wheel assembly mounted toward and supporting the free end ofthe rearwardly extending leg.
 4. Retractable secondary power-actuatedstabilizer means extendable from the rearwardly extending leg to theground, and
 4. Retractable secondary power-actuated stabilizer meansextendable from the rearwardly extending leg to the ground, and
 4. Theapparatus of claim 2 in which the support means for the front transverseleg comprises hitching means adapted to hitch the front transverse legparallel to the transverse axis and to the rear of a prime mover in suchmanner that the apparatus is substantially restricted from independentmotion in those planes of rotation perpendicular to the longitudinal andvertical axes of the prime mover.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 in whichan auxiliary retractable stabilizer means extendible to the ground islocated on the front transverse leg toward the angle formed by the legsof the frame.
 5. Secondary power and control means adapted to operatethe stabilizer means.
 5. Secondary power and control means adapted tooperate the stabilizer means.
 6. The apparatus of claim 4 in which thesecondary power is provided from the prime mover.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 2 in which the support means for the front transverse legcomprises two wheel assemblies mounted at opposite ends of an axle alongthe transverse leg and the wheel assembly on the rearwardly extendingleg is operably connected to steering means.
 8. The apparatus of claim 7in which primary power means is mounted on the frame and adapted totransmit motive power to the front wheel assemblies.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 8 in which the primary power means is also adapted to operatesecondary power means.
 10. The apparatus of claim 7 in which theexcavator assembly is affixed to the excavator support by means of asecondary power-actuated carriage mounted on the support in such amanner that it is capable of horizontal shuttling motion along theexcavator support and the secondary power and control means is adaptedto operate the stabilizer means, carriage and excavator assemblyindependently.